Water infrastructure is essential for meeting and managing basic human needs. Public health begins and ends with clean and available water. But the cost of water services has been increasing over the years, making it more difficult for low-income residents to afford their water bills.

libby cole 9/8/21 libby cole 9/8/21

Lead Service Lines Belong in the History Books

No one should be drinking water from a lead service line, but up to 10 or even 12 million lead service lines are still delivering water to homes every day.

libby cole 10/3/20 libby cole 10/3/20

How Can I Find Out if I Have a Lead Service Line?

Lead service lines are the largest source of lead in drinking water. What’s the most reliable way to find out whether you have a lead service line delivering water to your home? Sometimes you can get all the answers in your own basement or crawl space, and sometimes the conclusive answer is more challenging to find.

libby cole 4/28/20 libby cole 4/28/20

Flushing household plumbing after a water service restoration

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many water utilities are restoring water service to homes where service was previousl In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many water utilities are restoring water service to homes where service was previously shut off due to non-payment. Water utilities are trying to respond quickly to this urgent need and should provide instructions on how to flush household plumbing to restore water quality in the home after extended water shutoffs. y shut off due to non-payment. Water utilities are trying to respond quickly to this urgent need and should provide instructions on how to flush household plumbing to restore water quality in the home after extended water shutoffs.

libby cole 3/25/20 libby cole 3/25/20

Water Access is Urgent During Outbreak

You can’t wash your hands if your water has been shut off. Detroiters who have been fighting for a moratorium on water shutoffs for years finally received good news when Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced a plan to stop shutoffs and directed the City of Detroit to reconnect water service for all residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. While over 350 US cities and states have pledged to stop new shutoffs nationwide, far fewer have committed to restoring water service. But announcing that water restorations are available does not mean the public health crisis has been fixed. Thousands of affected residents in Detroit and across the country need emergency water today.